"I knew you would find it for yourself."
He thought this over. "That was better. Tell me, Jane: are you a
socialist?"
"Mm ... yes, of course; all sensible people are."
"A member of the party?"
"I've never joined, though I've heard Kate O'Hare, and some of the local
'comrades' speak. And I went to the Debs meeting last fall."
So she was a socialist--one of the despised, reviled believers in the
newer, finer creed! He had guessed it all along; the certainty as to it
had played some part in the pleasure at his own mental choice. Out of a
joyed heart he announced, "I'm going to join--at once! I met a member of
the Adamsville local--a Mr. Duckworth----"
"I've met him,--an architect, isn't he? A dear old type!"
"That's the one. He has my application card."
"My dear boy! You're much too precipitate. You ought to read--and
think--a lot first."
When she heard his achievements, she had to confess that what he had
read already exceeded her desultory knowledge.
"But what will your father think of you!"
Pelham meditated, and spoke out of a divided mind. "He thinks pretty
straight. And he likes Wells. I'm going to talk it over with him."
"Here's to a pleasant session! I envy you your courage, Pelham. What
Auntie didn't say to me! Even Mrs. Anderson shrugs at my opinions. She's
thoroughly bourgeois--charity, labor laws, factory reforms are as far as
she dares contemplate." A little smile curved her cheek bewitchingly, as
the brilliance of her large eyes caressed him approvingly. "Anything's
bourgeois that we socialists don't like, you know."
She went on, after an intimate moment of pondering. "Let me tell you
what we are trying to do, first. Mrs. Anderson's committee wants the
state to pass a decent mining law. We're behind the rest of the country
now in safeguards for miners; and our limping laws aren't observed. The
Board of Trade has endorsed the new law, but the state labor federation
has played off. Meet those men.... Most of the union bosses are crooks,
you know."
"I know the other side says that----" His tone was incredulous.
"There are crooks in both camps, Pelham. Just watch John Pooley and his
gang! And, while you talk to the redoubtable Paul J., see what he thinks
about our mining bill."
"It's such a little thing, Jane, with socialism to fight for!"
She nodded her head, with a charming echoey dogmatism. "Big movements go
forward by little things.... What's the time?"
The radium face of his watch made his own expression fall. "I'm afraid
we must turn back, dear lady.... I'll sound my father, and let you
know."
His mother, the next morning, casually began to cross-examine him
concerning his sudden friendship for the girl. He had not seen Dorothy,
he reflected with a start, for two weeks now; Jane had told him that the
Meades were leaving for the summer, perhaps to be gone the next year as
well. He hardly minded. Dorothy was a closed alley; she did not
think,--and even if he had loved her, he could not have married her. But
this girl....
"Jane's splendid, mother. I like her immensely."
"Mother knows her, Pelham. She is undeniably clever. She spoke at the
State Federation of Women's Clubs in favor of our joining the National.
Clever, but very ... young. There are negro clubs in the National, you
know. Don't you remember, dear, I told you how I defeated the
resolution?"
"I don't remember your mentioning her."
"She made the speech just after mine. She said, 'I am sure that Mrs.
Judson, if she met her negro mammy in heaven, would be glad to see her.'
And I answered, 'Yes; when I meet her, I expect to say, "Mammy Sarah,
how are you? And how are all your folks?" I wouldn't say, "Well, Mrs.
Sarah Barbour, what is your opinion of the present state of the drama,
and the influence of Kant and Schelling upon American philosophy?"' It
floored her. The resolution was defeated."
"I don't see anything so awful in it."
"But--negro clubs, Pelham!"